Chords of Fame

Chords of Fame is a two-LP compilation from American folk singer Phil Ochs, compiled by his brother Michael Ochs shortly after Phil's death and released in 1976 on A&M Records. With the exception of 1969's Rehearsals for Retirement, all studio albums are represented, as well as a number of live releases.

The compilation also included several rarities not previously available on an album:

• An electric version of "I Ain't Marching Anymore", released as a single in the UK in 1966.
• Both sides of a 1974 single:
  • "Power and the Glory", recorded with a fife and drum corps.
  • "Here's to the State of Richard Nixon", a revision of "Here's to the State of Mississippi", taped live at Max's Kansas City.
• An acoustic version of "Crucifixion" recorded at Carnegie Hall on March 27, 1970, at the show that had produced Gunfight at Carnegie Hall.

Notably, Chords of Fame compiled tracks Ochs had recorded for both A&M and Elektra Records. With the exception of the 1997 box set Farewells & Fantasies, the album marked the last time Ochs' Elektra material would be released on A&M, or vice versa.

Ed Sanders wrote the liner notes, which were printed on the back of the album.

Source material

• Track 1 from the 1966 single.
• Tracks 2, 5, 6 and 7 from All the News That's Fit to Sing (1964).
• Track 3 from I Ain't Marching Anymore (1965).
• Tracks 4 and 22 from the 1974 single.
• Tracks 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 from Phil Ochs in Concert (1966).
• Tracks 15 and 23 from Pleasures of the Harbor (1967).
• Tracks 16 and 17 from Gunfight at Carnegie Hall (1974).
• Tracks 18, 21 and 24 from Greatest Hits (1970).
• Track 19 previously unreleased (recorded 1970).
• Track 20 from Tape from California (1968).